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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY
upon. He opposed a single executive, pre-
ferring an executive commission; opposed
re-eligibility of the president, and his hold-
ing pardoning power, the vice-presidential
office, and states having two senators irre-
spective of their population; and favored
the giving of powers to the Federal gov-
ernment sufficient to prevent any state from
carrying out a law declared by the supreme
court to be unconstitutional. It was his
motion that eliminated the word "slavery"
fiom the constitution. He refused to sign
the instrument as prepared, unless a second
national convention should act on it, after
it had been discussed by the people. In the
Virginia convention of 1788, however, he
advocated its ratification as necessary to
union. The clause of Article VI. on religious
tests was added at his suggestion. He re-
signed as governor in 1788, and secured a
seat in the assembly, that he might take part
in codifying the laws of the state. On Sep-
tember 2T. 1789, he was named by President
Washington as attorney-general, and served
until January 2, 1794, when he succeeded
Thomas Jefferson as secretary of state. He
opposed the Jay Treaty as detrimental to
Southern interests and the national dignity.
He held the office of secretary of state till
August 19. 1795, when, on account of a mis-
understanding with Washington, he re-
signed. An account was made up against him
of $49,000 for moneys placed in his hands
to defray the expenses of foreign inter-
course, and he was held responsible for all
moneys lost through accidents and other
calamities; after repeated trials, his lands
and slaves were sold, the government gain-
ing besides the debt and interest about
$7,000. He appeared as counsel for Aaron
Kurr in his trial for treason at Richmond.
He was the author of: "Democratic So-
cieties (1795)"; "Vindication of Mr. Ran-
dolph's Resignation (1795)"; "Political
Trust, or Animadversions on the Past and
Present Sute of Public Affairs (1796)", and
"History of Virginia" (MS. in possession of
Virginia Historical Society). Edmuird
Randolph died in Clarke county, September
13. 1813.
Randolph, Peyton, was born at "Tazewell Hall," Williamsburg, 1721, son of Sir John Randolph. He was educated at William and ^ Mary College; barrister of law at Inner Temple. London, and attorney-general for X'irginia in 1748; and the same year repre- sented Williamsburg in the house of bur- gesses. This body sent him, in 1754, to ap- pear before the English ministry to demon- strate the unconstitutionality of a pistole fee imposed by Governor Robert Dinwiddie on every land patent, and after his argument the fee was rescinded on land patents on less than one hundred acres, and soon after on all patents. He had gone to England without consent of the governor, who appointed George Wythe in his place in the office of attorney-general, the latter yielding to Ran- dolph on his return a few months later. Ran- dolph led a company against the Indians after Braddock's defeat ; was chairman of a committee, in 1769. to revise the laws of the province and was a visitor of William and Mary College. In 1764 he strongly opposed the Stamp Act; in 1766 was chosen speaker, and gave up his post as royal attorney, being succeeded by his brother, John. From this time on, he held all the first positions in the colony. He was chairman of the committee of correspondence, 1773-1775* and in August, 1774, he was chairman of the Virginia con-
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